8 ​Creative Ways to Keep Your Kids Hydrated This Summer

I never want to complain about the summer, but it can get hot out there! Aside from shvitzing all your makeup and deodorant away — which isn’t a good look — if we don’t drink enough water, we can get dehydrated fast.

I’ve also noticed these days that if my toddler is out running around in the sun for too long, he’s a tired hot mess by 3 p.m., mainly because he’s not hydrating enough. Sometimes, he’ll even pass out as soon as we get home in the mid afternoon and sleep through the night. While I don't always mind the break, I want to keep him safe in the summer too.

One mom told me her daughter had "heat stress" this weekend after a hot lacrosse game. How scary is that? (By the way, the medic advised her to give her kids water rather than Gatorade.)

But how much should a kid drink all day? Well, it varies, according to pediatrician Dr. Nitin Gupta. "It's very difficult to give a definitive number on how much water every child needs to drink due to the child’s weight, the outdoor temperature and their activity level," he says. "The best way to know if your child is getting enough fluids to to make sure their urine color is clear to light yellow."

Gupta also suggests keeping outdoor play to a minimum when temperatures really spike. "With outdoor temperatures above 85 degrees and high humidity, try to avoid direct sunlight from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If your child is out playing, make sure they have plenty of water available. Those in sports should be hydrating every 30 to 45 minutes," he says.

That's great advice, but I have a hard enough time getting my boy to wear shoes and eat his lunch, let alone drink water every 30 minutes. So, I need some help. After doing a little research and talking to some friends, I discovered these creative ways to keep our kids drinking:

Popsicles

These tasty frozen treats are usually a hit with all kids. You can buy them at stores or create your own with less sugar too.

Watermelon

My kid could eat a whole watermelon a day if I served it up. I bring slices with me to the park and leave them in his snack box daily.

New Water Bottle

Anything new and shiny will get some attention from the kids. Buy a new water bottle with your kid's favorite characters or colors on display—like one of these CamelBak bottles— and you may have an easier time getting them to drink.

Make it a Game

Challenge your kids to drink water until certain points in their cup. For example say, try to drink until Bat Man's leg!

Cucumbers

Have them snack on water-filled veggies like crunchy cucumbers.

Flavored Water

Add a bit of orange juice, apple juice or even watermelon juice to mix it up and get your kids more willing to drink all day.

Ice it Up

For some reason, there are kids who love to eat ice and crushed ice too. Bring ice cubes and slushes out with you in a cooler and make it part of your snack break.

Use a Fun Straw

Kids might be more inclined to guzzle down water if they can slurp it from a straw with a vibrant color or a funky design (yes, both of these options are eco-friendly!).

My creative ways to drink water involve binging on cups of water while watching Netflix in the air conditioning. I might need a new plan — not to mention, I could also use a better water bottle. I have my eyes set on this one that I can stick fruit in so it goes down easier and naturally sweeter.

Whatever you do, just keep those liquids, ice or fruit chunks handy and always remember to have fun while in the sun too. Enjoy the summer while it's here!

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